You Have 10 Days After a DUI Arrest
Here’s What Most People Miss
10-day deadline: Request DMV Hearing
After a DUI arrest in California, you have just 10 days to protect your license and most people miss it. If you do nothing, your license can be automatically suspended. Let me explain exactly what’s going on and how to protect yourself.
When you’re arrested for DUI, the officer takes your physical license and gives you a pink sheet. That pink sheet is not just paperwork, it’s actually your temporary driver’s license. It’s valid for 30 days from the date of arrest. After that, if nothing is done, the DMV can suspend your license automatically.
But here’s the critical part, within 10 days of your arrest, you have to contact the DMV and request a hearing. If you don’t do that within 10 days, you lose your right to challenge the suspension, and it can go into effect automatically after the 30 days.
why requesting a DMV hearing matters
- It stops the automatic suspension and extends your ability to drive until the hearing is decided.
- It gives you early discovery. That means you get police reports and evidence before your criminal case really gets going.
- It gives you a chance to actually win and avoid the suspension entirely. The DMV has to prove their case, and sometimes they can’t.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in LA County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, or Riverside County, this is one of the first and most important steps to protect your license. If you have questions about your specific situation, give us a call, this is something you want to get right early.
